Irish undocumented immigrants warned of scam
A scam falsely promising green cards and work permits is targeting undocumented Irish immigrants living in Massachusetts, immigration attorneys warned Wednesday.
Irish immigrants recently have reported being approached by attorneys who promise green cards within six months for fees of around $15,000, pro bono immigration attorney Christopher Lavery said.
But Lavery and the Irish Pastoral Centre, which helps Irish immigrants in their transitions to life in the United States, said the promise is false. Federal immigration authorities would issue temporary work permits, however the applications ultimately would be denied, they said.
"By that time, these (attorneys) would be long gone with the money and these fellows would be handed over to immigration," Lavery said.
Some immigrants already have reported paying fees of the false applications, he said.
Advocates are telling immigrants to report such green card claims to authorities.
Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrants & Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said similar scams have targeted area Latinos and Brazilian immigrants.
"We know that there is a lot of fraud involving other immigrants," Millona said. "They are easy to victimize."
Lavery estimates that about 1,200 undocumented Irish immigrants live around Boston.
